Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy

Merchant Shipping: Pensions

Matt Rodda: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, pursuant to the Answer of 24 June 2021 to Question 18566, on Merchant Navy Officers Pension Fund Scheme, what estimate he has made of the projected average entitlement for members of the Merchant Navy Ratings Pension Fund pension scheme through the Natural Environment Research Council and British Antarctic Survey.

Amanda Solloway: The Merchant Navy Ratings Pension Fund (MNRPF) is a multi-employer pension scheme and it is therefore not possible for any single participating (current or past) employer to estimate it’s share of any liabilities. This is a closed pension scheme and we do not know for certain if there are either active or deferred members of MNRPF who were previously employees of UK Research Innovation (UKRI) (or its predecessor organisations - NERC/BAS/NOC). However, it is possible, as not all of the former employees who were members of this pension scheme will have reached the scheme retirement age yet. As they are no longer employees, UKRI have no record of their current pension scheme memberships or entitlements.

Merchant Shipping: Pensions

Matt Rodda: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, pursuant to the Answer of 24 June 2021 to Question 18565 on the Merchant Navy Officers Pension Fund Scheme, if he will make an estimate of the future cost to the public purse in the (a) short-term and (b) long-term in relation to the Natural Environment Research Council and British Antarctic Survey’s role as a sponsoring employer of the Merchant Navy Ratings Pension Fund pension scheme.

Amanda Solloway: The Merchant Navy Ratings Pension Fund (MNRPF) is a multi-employer pension scheme and it is therefore not possible for any single participating (current or past) employer to estimate it’s share of any liabilities. This is a closed pension scheme and we do not know for certain if there are either active or deferred members of MNRPF who were previously employees of UK Research Innovation (UKRI) (or its predecessor organisations - NERC/BAS/NOC). However, it is possible, as not all of the former employees who were members of this pension scheme will have reached the scheme retirement age yet. As they are no longer employees, UKRI have no record of their current pension scheme memberships or entitlements.

Department of Health and Social Care

Microplastics: Health

Selaine Saxby: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment the National Institute for Health Research has made of the merits of funding projects to establish the potential effect of microplastics on human health.

Edward Argar: The National Institute for Health Research is funding research on microplastic toxicity in humans through the Health Protection Research Unit in Environmental Exposure, which is led by Imperial College London and Public Health England. This work will be reported in peer reviewed academic journals in due course.

Dementia: Research

Jonathan Ashworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how much the Government spent on dementia research in (a) 2018-19, (b) 2019-20 and (c) 2020-21.

Edward Argar: In 2018-19, Government spending on dementia research was £82.9 million and £75.7 million in 2019-20. Figures for spending in 2020-21 are not yet available.

Medical Research Charity Partnership Fund

Rachael Maskell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what recent assessment he has made of the implications for his policies of the proposal by the Medical Research Charity Partnership Fund to increase funding in medical research.

Edward Argar: The Department is liaising with medical research charities to understand the impact of the pandemic and to identify how we can work together to ensure patients continue to benefit from charity-funded research. Most recently, the Department of Health and Social Care and the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy announced a £20 million initiative to support charity-funded early career researchers who play an essential role in delivering research which benefits patients and the wider public. The Government is committed to continue its support to research charities through the National Institute for Health Research, which helps to deliver vital health and care research across the country.

Lynfield Mount Hospital Bradford: Finance

Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will meet the Bradford District Care Trust to discuss the need for investment at Lynfield Mount Hospital.

Edward Argar: We have no current plans to do so.On 17 July we launched the process for trusts to express an interest in being selected for funding for eight new hospitals to be built by 2030 in England.The Department welcomes applications from all trusts, including Bradford District Care NHS Foundation Trust, who meet the criteria. Local health systems have received confirmation of their capital funding for 2021/22 which enables them to progress priority investments agreed with local health partners.

Brain: Tumours

Sarah Olney: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will make it his policy to commit increased funding for brain tumour research.

Edward Argar: In May 2018 the Government announced £40 million over five years for brain tumour research as part of the Tessa Jowell Brain Cancer Mission through the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR). Brain tumour research is a difficult area with a relatively small research community. We are increasing this field, by providing workshops for researchers and training for clinicians.The NIHR released a public announcement to the research community in April 2018, making clear our desire to receive brain tumour research funding applications. We are relying on researchers to submit high-quality research proposals. All applications that were fundable in open competition have been funded.

NHS: Staff

Steve McCabe: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what discussions he has had with (a) trade unions and (b) the NHS on the potential effect of the establishment of wholly-owned subsidiaries by NHS Trusts on pay and conditions of healthcare workers.

Edward Argar: As part of the Department’s regular engagement with trade unions and NHS England and NHS Improvement, issues on the potential effect of the establishment of wholly-owned subsidiaries by National Health Service trusts on pay and conditions of healthcare workers have been raised on an ad hoc basis.Under powers granted under the NHS Act 2006 S46 (5), NHS organisations have been responsible for deciding locally the most appropriate structures they need to deliver services to their patients and to support their operations. Where NHS organisations decide locally to set up a wholly-owned subsidiary, staff who are compulsorily transferred from the NHS to the subsidiary will be protected under the Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) Regulations 2006. This protects pay and terms and conditions at the point of transfer.

Department of Health and Social Care: Contracts

Fleur Anderson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what role Ministers in his Department had in the approval of contracts under the emergency procurement processes during the covid-19 outbreak.

Edward Argar: Ministers were advised by officials to make decisions in response to COVID-19, which included consideration of procurement and contracting options with suppliers. Under the Department’s standing Financial Control Framework Ministers delegate to the Department’s Accounting Officers to deliver their decisions and provide support in handling public funds. The Accounting Officer should ensure the Department operates to a high standard of probity and has safeguards in place to ensure value for money and appropriate risk management procedures. Under this Framework, assurance processes to assess offers from suppliers were put in place and undertaken by officials in relation to all individual contracts awarded in response to COVID-19 using regulation 32(2)(c) under the Public Contract Regulations, which allows for a direct contract award due to extreme urgency or the absence of competition.

Members: Correspondence

Mr John Baron: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, when he plans to respond to the correspondence from the hon. Member for Basildon and Billericay of 4 March, 12 April and 12 May 2021 on the Catchupwithcancer campaign, reference JB31721.

Edward Argar: We replied to the hon. Member on 11 August 2021.